Speakers

Search and rescue plays a critical but often unseen role in keeping our community safe. This presentation provides an overview of Spokane County Search and Rescue—who the volunteers are, how the organization is structured, and how missions are initiated and carried out in partnership with the Sheriff’s Office. Rob will walk through what happens from themoment a 911 call comes in to the conclusion of a mission. The presentation will also highlight the extensive training required to prepare volunteers for challenging and sometimes dangerous situations, along with the team’s community outreachand prevention efforts. Finally, Rob will provide a high-level look at how the program is funded, how resources are used, and how community support helps ensure that trained volunteers are ready when the call for help comes.

Brief Speaker Bio
Rob Brewer has been a search and rescue volunteer inSpokane County for more than 25 years. He is a past Chair of the Spokane County Search and Rescue Council and currently serves as a member of the county’s Mountain Rescue Unit. Rob has also served on the board of the Washington State Searchand Rescue Volunteer Advisory Council and currently sits on the board of the National Association for Search and Rescue. Whenhe’s not responding to emergencies or training, Rob works in ITand public service and is grateful to his wife and three children, who generously support his commitment to serving the community

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This program provides a fascinating insight into current challenges, modern enforcement tools, and the role the department plays in our outdoor world.

Brief Speaker Bio
Alan Myers is a 25-year member of WDFW and recently returned to the Spokane area with the responsibility of overseeing Eastern Washington operations. He was stationed in both Clarkston & Newport early in his career before several assignments in Western WA, including a 5-year stint in Olympia at department headquarters. He enjoys being out in nature more than a desk job. He has also embraced community involvement by joining the Inland Empire Football Officials Association as a transfer from a west-side association.

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Cory will lead a panel of 3-5 former Gonzaga Men's Basketball players to talk about the current team's year, outlook for where they might land in the March Madness bracket, and what it will take to make a deep run in the tournament this year.

Brief Speaker Bio
Hoops Highlights:
• Cory began playing hoops at 5 years old in the back yard withdad!
• High school ball at Bishop Kelly High in Boise, ID, A2 StateChamps in 1997-98, Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year in 99’-00
• Gonzaga Bulldog from 2000-200,4 graduating with a degree inFinance
• 3 Time All WCC (2001-2004)
• 5th All-Time Rebounds
• Cory helped lead the Gonzaga men's basketball team to fourconsecutive NCAA Tournament berths, at the very beginning ofthe Zags' remarkable run.
• Played Professionally in Italy, Turkey, and Japan
Today Cory still loves the game but spends his time on the sidelines coaching his kids. Cory and his wife Lisa are raising 3 boys, ages 9, 11, and 17. They love playing all the sports theycan find a ride to! To help fund all those sporting events and after-school activities, Cory is a financial advisor with MerrillLynch. Cory and Lisa love living in Spokane and being a part of this community.

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LaDonna and her co-pilot, Lisa Dodd, joined 43 other all-female pilot teams last summer and flew from Fairhope, AL, to Spokane, WA, in the 2025 Air Race Classic. The Air Race Classic is theepicenter of women's air racing. Pilots range in age from 17 to90+ years old. They come from a wide variety of backgrounds, including students, teachers, doctors, airline pilots, business owners, professionals, and air traffic controllers. Race Teams, consisting of at least two women pilots, must fly VFR duringdaylight hours only and are given four days to make flybys at each en route timing point and then land at the terminus. The race route changes each year, approximately 2,400 statute miles in length, with 8 or 9 timing points.

Brief Speaker Bio
LaDonna Beaumont is a 2-time President of the Coeur d'AleneSunrise Rotary Club. She is a Financial Advisor with STCU working in the North Idaho region. LaDonna has only been apilot for a few years. Her story is inspirational for anyonethinking of taking a chance and learning new skills.

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Stacey Cowles will share insights as to why the Cowles Company is donating the Spokesman-Review to a local nonprofit organization.

Brief Speaker Bio
Mr. Cowles has served as President of the Cowles Company and Publisher of The Spokesman-Review newspaper for over 33 years.

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Marcus, a Club 21 member, is uniquely positioned to provide asummary of the "short session," scheduled to end in mid-March. A former leader in the House, he is now partway through hisfirst term in the Senate. Currently, he sits on the Ways & Means Committee and the Health & Long-term Care Committee, two very important to Spokane. His leadership skills have also been recognized, as he's been appointed to be the majority (D) floorleader. Still, Marcus acts very non-partisan and is widelyrespected.

Brief Speaker Bio
Born and raised in Spokane, Marcus Riccelli graduated from Gonzaga University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and from the University of Washington with a Master of Public Administration. From 2007 to 2010, Marcus served as U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell’s Eastern Washington Director; from 2010 to 2012 as Senior Policy Advisor to Washington State Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown. He was elected to the statelegislature in 2012 (House) and 2024 to the Senate. Marcus worked with advocates and colleagues from both sides of theaisle to prime sponsor and pass legislation creating the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. He also worked on the bipartisan transportation package that makes significant investments in the North Spokane Corridor, Central City Line, and U-District Bridge, which will expand employment opportunities in the Spokane region and reduce travel time by several million hours each year. He championed funding to expand oral health access to an additional 60,000 people, increasing dental visits by 150,000 annually. He also passedmultiple bills expanding access to free school meals, benefiting 670,000 Washington students.

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